Advanced Functional Lab Testing

Functional Lab Testing for Precision, Clarity & Root-Cause Healing

When Standard Labs Don’t Explain Your Symptoms

When symptoms persist but standard labs return “normal,” patients are often left without answers—or a path forward.

The reality is this:

Most chronic symptoms are driven by functional imbalances that conventional lab testing is not designed to measure. Advanced Functional Lab Testing identifies early dysfunction, system stress, and compensatory patterns long before disease-based markers appear.

At Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine, functional testing provides the clinical clarity needed to move from symptom management to targeted, root-cause care.

Why Functional Lab Testing Matters

Functional Lab Testing evaluates how your systems are functioning—not just whether disease is present.

This approach allows us to assess:

• Metabolic and biochemical efficiency
• Hormone signaling and stress physiology
• Gut integrity and microbiome balance
• Detoxification and drainage capacity
• Immune activation and inflammatory load
• Mitochondrial energy production
• Cellular nutrient sufficiency
• Environmental toxin and mold exposure

This depth of insight explains symptoms that conventional testing often misses.

Symptoms & Conditions Functional Testing Helps Clarify

Functional testing frequently identifies contributors to:

• Fatigue, low stamina, and burnout
• Brain fog, poor focus, and cognitive decline
• Digestive symptoms including bloating, reflux, constipation, or diarrhea
• Hormonal imbalance and cycle irregularities
• Weight resistance and metabolic instability
• Skin conditions and inflammatory flares
• Autoimmune activation and immune dysregulation
• Chronic pain, headaches, and neurological symptoms
• Mold toxicity and chronic inflammatory response
• Tick-borne and post-viral illness patterns
• Anxiety, irritability, and mood instability
• Impaired detoxification and toxin burden
• Food sensitivities and nutrient depletion
• Mitochondrial dysfunction and low cellular energy

If symptoms remain unexplained, functional testing provides clarity.

What We Identify Through Functional Lab Testing

Hormonal & Stress Dysregulation

Perimenopause, menopause, PMS, PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal imbalance
→ Women’s Hormone & Reproductive Health
→ Thyroid & Adrenal Health

Digestive & Gut Dysfunction

Dysbiosis, SIBO, parasites, Candida, leaky gut, inflammatory patterns
→ Gut Health & Digestive Restoration

Nutrient Deficiencies

Low magnesium, zinc, B vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants, and mitochondrial cofactors

Environmental Toxins & Mold Exposure

Mycotoxins, pesticides, heavy metals, VOCs, plasticizers
→ Detoxification & Environmental Medicine

Chronic & Stealth Infections

Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia, EBV, viral reactivation patterns
→ Immune Health & Autoimmune Support
→ Chronic Illness & Complex Case Care

Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Low ATP production, oxidative stress, impaired cellular repair
→ Longevity & Mitochondrial Health

Immune & Inflammatory Imbalance

MCAS patterns, autoimmune activation, chronic inflammatory response

Food Sensitivities

IgG and IgA reactions, gluten intolerance, dairy, eggs, nightshades, FODMAP triggers

Genetic & Epigenetic Influences

Methylation pathways, detox capacity, hormone metabolism, inflammatory SNPs

Common Advanced Labs We Use

DUTCH Hormone & Adrenal Testing

Evaluates cortisol rhythms, sex hormones and metabolites, melatonin, oxidative stress, and detox pathways.

Organic Acids Testing (OAT)

Assesses mitochondrial function, mold markers, nutrient status, neurotransmitters, detox pathways, and microbial metabolites.

Comprehensive Stool & Gut Microbiome Analysis

Evaluates digestion, inflammation, dysbiosis, parasites, yeast, microbiome balance, and gut immunity.

Food Sensitivity Panels

IgG, IgA, complement-mediated reactions, delayed immune responses.

Micronutrient & Mineral Analysis

Intracellular nutrient levels, antioxidants, cofactors for detoxification, hormones, immunity, and ATP production.

Environmental Toxin & Mycotoxin Panels

Mold toxins, pesticides, VOCs, phthalates, parabens, BPA, heavy metals.

Lyme & Tick-Borne Coinfection Testing

Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, viral reactivation patterns.

Genetic & Epigenetic Testing (SNP Analysis)

Methylation, detox pathways, hormone metabolism, inflammatory SNPs.

Functional Blood Chemistry (Optimal Range Analysis)

We do not rely on disease-based reference ranges — we interpret bloodwork using functional optimal ranges to catch early imbalances.

How Lab Results Guide Treatment

Pattern Identification

Results are interpreted in the context of symptoms, history, environment, nutrition, stress physiology, and lifestyle to identify systems-level dysfunction.

Common patterns include:

• Hormonal dysregulation
• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• Gut–immune imbalance
• Toxic burden and impaired detoxification
• Stealth infections
• Thyroid and adrenal dysfunction
• Blood sugar and metabolic instability

Personalized Clinical Strategy

Findings inform a stepwise plan that may include:

• Acupuncture & nervous system regulation
• Nutrition and metabolic correction
• Detoxification & drainage support
• Mitochondrial repair therapies
• Hormone balance support
• Sports medicine & corrective exercise

Interventions are prioritized based on physiological readiness.

Progress Monitoring & Adjustment

Healing is tracked through:

• Symptom trends
• Key biomarkers
• Energy, sleep, digestion, and cognition
• Hormonal and metabolic patterns
• Detoxification and inflammatory markers

Plans evolve as function improves.

Who Benefits Most From Functional Lab Testing

Functional testing is especially helpful for individuals with:

• Chronic fatigue or burnout
• Brain fog or cognitive changes
• Hormonal imbalance
• Digestive symptoms, IBS, or SIBO
• Anxiety or mood instability
• Migrating pain patterns
• Mold illness or chemical sensitivity
• Autoimmune activation
• Chronic inflammation
• Weight resistance
• Sleep disruption
• Post-infectious or Long COVID symptoms

When symptoms persist without answers, functional testing provides direction.

Begin Your Diagnostic Journey

Functional Lab Testing replaces uncertainty with clarity.

It creates a clinical roadmap that supports targeted, sustainable healing—by addressing systems, not just symptoms.

Related Services

→ Functional & Integrative Medicine
→ Detoxification & Environmental Medicine
→ Chronic Illness & Complex Case Care

Frequently Asked Questions About Functional Lab Testing

1. What is Functional Lab Testing?

Functional Lab Testing evaluates the physiological systems that regulate energy production, digestion, hormones, detoxification, inflammation, and immune health. Unlike standard labs that simply look for disease, functional testing identifies patterns of dysfunction long before disease develops. This allows us to build targeted, root-cause treatment plans based on your unique biochemistry.

2. What conditions can functional testing help identify?

Functional testing can uncover contributors to chronic fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, hormone imbalance, thyroid and adrenal dysfunction, food sensitivities, inflammation, nutrient depletion, metabolic instability, toxin exposure, heavy metals, mold illness, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic immune activation.

3. Do I need all of the tests?

No. Testing is customized. You only complete labs that will meaningfully change your treatment plan and improve clinical outcomes.

4. Are tests completed at home or in-office?

Most tests are completed at home using simple kits. Some require a local blood draw, and we help coordinate those logistics.

5. Does insurance cover functional testing?

Basic blood work may be billed through insurance depending on your plan and LabCorp coverage. However, advanced functional labs are not covered by insurance and are generally self-pay. Some specialty labs provide superbills for partial reimbursement.

6. Is this available via telemedicine?

Yes. All functional testing and personalized root-cause treatment plans can be completed through secure telemedicine.

7. How is functional lab testing different from standard blood work?

Standard labs are designed to identify disease states and are extremely valuable when interpreted through an optimal range, not just a disease threshold. We often gain important insights from basic blood work.

Functional lab testing builds on this foundation by providing deeper, more detailed information—such as nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, advanced hormone patterns, toxin exposure, and metabolic and immune function—allowing earlier identification of dysfunction that contributes to chronic symptoms.

8. Can functional testing explain symptoms when conventional labs are “normal”?

Many patients experience significant symptoms despite standard labs appearing “normal” when evaluated only against disease-based reference ranges. We carefully review conventional labs using optimal ranges and often gain valuable insights from them. Functional testing then expands on this foundation by evaluating deeper physiological processes—such as mitochondrial energy production, detoxification capacity, gut–immune signaling, oxidative stress, and hormone metabolism—that are not captured by conventional testing alone.

9. How long does it take to receive functional lab results?

Most results return within 2-3 weeks, depending on the test. Once results are received, they are interpreted in context rather than in isolation, allowing for clear prioritization and a structured treatment plan.

10. Will testing show the root cause of my symptoms?

Testing does not provide a single diagnosis but helps identify the upstream contributors driving symptoms. By revealing dysfunction patterns across systems, functional testing guides root-cause treatment rather than symptom suppression.

11. Is functional lab testing safe for sensitive or chronically ill patients?

Yes. Testing is selected carefully and sequenced appropriately. For highly sensitive patients, labs are prioritized to minimize burden while still providing meaningful clinical insight.

12. What types of functional labs are commonly used?

Depending on the case, testing may evaluate hormones, gut health, nutrient status, metabolic function, toxin exposure, mold and mycotoxins, immune activation, mitochondrial function, and detoxification pathways. Only clinically relevant testing is recommended.

13. Will my treatment plan change based on test results?

Yes. Functional testing directly informs treatment decisions, including nutrition, supplements, lifestyle strategies, detoxification support, and therapeutic sequencing. Testing is used to refine and personalize care, not to add unnecessary complexity.

14. Can functional testing be repeated?

Yes. Follow-up testing may be used to assess progress, guide next treatment phases, or confirm that interventions are working as intended. Repeat testing is always purposeful and clinically justified.

15. Do I need to stop supplements or medications before testing?

In some cases, certain supplements may need to be paused briefly to ensure accurate results, while others should be continued. Medication guidance depends on the specific test and your clinical situation. Clear instructions are provided before testing so results are accurate and safe.

16. How much does functional lab testing typically cost?

Costs vary depending on which tests are clinically appropriate for your case. Because testing is customized, you only complete labs that are expected to meaningfully inform your treatment plan. All recommendations and costs are reviewed in advance so there are no surprises.

17. What if I can’t do all recommended testing at once?

Testing can be prioritized and completed in phases. A stepwise approach is often preferred—especially for sensitive or complex cases—to reduce burden while still gaining meaningful clinical insight.